142 
Editorial Comment. 
gists, representing different portions of tlie country, began on 
the first of January, 1888, the publication of “The American 
Geologist,” a monthly periodical, with editorial management 
fixed provisionally at Minneapolis. In the June number of this 
periodical appeared from the Chairman and Secretary of the 
committee which had been constituted at Cincinnati in 1881, a 
call “upon all American geologists” to assemble at Cleveland on 
the day preceding the opening of the meeting of the American 
Association, for the purpose of organizing, if deemed expedient* 
a national geological society. The basis of organization sug¬ 
gested in this circular restricted membership in the contemplated 
society to the members and fellows of the American Association, 
and devolved on the Association the election of the president and 
secretary of the new society. It was also contemplated that the 
permission of the Association should be asked for Section E. “to¬ 
ll old meetings at such time and place as they may desire.” 
Promptly on August 14, 1888, in pursuance of the published 
call, the geologists in attendance at Cleveland assembled for the 
purpose of discussing the organization of a national society. 
Alexander Winchell was chosen chairman, and Julius Pohlman 
secretary. It was at once apparent that interest in the proposed 
organization amounted to zeal. It was unanimously resolved 
that an American Geological Society was now desirable. As to 
the relation which it should sustain to Section E., of the Amer¬ 
ican Association, different views were expressed; but they were 
speedily harmonized. It had been often urged as an objection 
to the projected society, that it might impair attendance at the 
meetings of the American Association. With a view to avoid-, 
ing all conflict, it was suggested on one hand that the member¬ 
ship of the society should be coextensive with that of Section 
E., and on the other, that its officers should be the same as those 
chosen for Section E. Some, with more zeal for the interests 
of geology than for those of the Association, advocated complete 
independence. Both ends were reached by a compromise which 
provided that the “original members” of the geological society 
must be active workers or teachers of geology, who were either 
members or fellows of the Association; but, that after January 
1, 1889, other persons would be eligible. The compromise fur¬ 
ther provided that a summer meeting should always be held at 
the same time and place as the meeting of the Association; but 
